The Hidden Financiers: Women’s Role in Medieval Commerce
Discover how medieval women—noblewomen, abbesses, and merchants—played vital roles in managing estates, running businesses, and shaping the economic life of the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: The Queens and Royal Women of Sweden, c. 970–1330
Over thirty Swedish queens are profiled in this book, the first major study of royal women in Sweden between the 10th and 14th centuries. It offers new insights into the evolution of medieval queenship.
What Medieval Women Read
Explore the private libraries of Marie de Berry and Jeanne d’Artois to discover what medieval women read. Their collections reveal the intellectual, devotional, and medical interests of noblewomen in the Late Middle Ages.
Medieval Ladies-in-Waiting with Caroline Dunn
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Caroline Dunn about the lives of ladies in waiting.
Lucrezia Borgia’s Life in Ferrara: Marriage, Intrigue, and Scandal
In 1500, Lucrezia Borgia found herself once again a pawn in the ruthless game of power and politics. With two failed marriages behind her—one ending in murder—she was at the centre of a marriage negotiation that would test the strength of two powerful families: the Borgias and the Estes of Ferrara.
Over 110,000 Medieval Manuscripts May Have Been Copied by Women
A new study reveals medieval women copied over 110,000 manuscripts—far more than once believed.
Inside Eleanor de Montfort’s Lavish Medieval Wardrobe
In the 13th century, noblewomen like Eleanor de Montfort used fashion to display power, status, and wealth. From rich wool and fine linen to opulent furs and intricate accessories, her medieval wardrobe was a statement of prestige and influence.
25 Medieval Women Who Ruled
Medieval history is filled with powerful women who ruled as queens, empresses, and sultanas, shaping kingdoms and empires despite the challenges they faced. From warrior rulers to master diplomats, these 25 medieval women defied expectations and left a lasting impact on history.
New Medieval Books: What is Better than a Good Woman?
Alice Chaucer may not have come from nobility, but through a series of marriages she was able to build herself into a powerful figure in 15th-century England. This biography tells her story.
Dowager Queens of Korea with Alban Schmid – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 275
Though they’re often overlooked, the dowager queens of Korea were the one of the most powerful legitimizing forces behind the throne. This week, Danièle speaks with Alban Schmid about how Korea was ruled in the late Middle Ages, its relationship to Ming China, and the power wielded by the women at the top.
New Medieval Books: Women and the Reformations
From queens like Elizabeth I to mystics such as Teresa of Ávila, women held pivotal roles in the religious struggles that shaped Christianity during the late Middle Ages and Early Modern period. This book examines the Reformation and Counter Reformation through several leading female figures, both within and outside of Europe.
New Medieval Books: Medieval Women and Urban Justice
What can medieval court records reveal about the lives of women? This book examines the legal disputes involving women in three English towns, uncovering their roles in cases ranging from debts and trade regulations to local trespass laws and public disorder.
Fixing the Liturgy with CJ Jones – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 272
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with CJ Jones about Dominican nuns, their theological sophistication, and how left their own unique mark on the Middle Ages.
In Defense of Women with Margaret L. King – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 270
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Margaret L. King about Renaissance man Pompeo Colonna, why he’s writing in defense of women, and how he crafts his argument.
New Medieval Books: Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife
This book offers an insightful exploration of the lives of women in medieval Western Europe, delving into the stories of remarkable figures like Marie de France, Julian of Norwich, Christine de Pizan, and Margery Kempe.
French women had more power in the Middle Ages than after the Revolution
The Middle Ages were not all about tyrannical rulers and power struggles. Cooperation, compromise, and women in power were also common, according to a historian at the University of Oslo.
Why Writing Women Back into History Matters
Rediscovering remarkable historical figures such as the Birka Warrior Woman, Hildegard of Bingen, and King Jadwiga offers a fresh perspective to understand an era often dismissed as ‘nasty, brutish, and short’.
New Medieval Books: Early English Queens, 850-1000
A look at queenship in early medieval England, this book focuses on three women: Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians, Eadgifu of Wessex, and Ælfthryth, Queen of the English. It examines the nature and role of their authority when it came to ruling England.
Medieval Women in Their Own Words: Uncovering Untold Stories at the British Library
The British Library’s Medieval Women: In Their Own Words exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the lives of medieval women through over 140 fascinating artifacts. One of the exhibition’s curators shares five standout pieces that reveal the resilience, creativity, and influence of women in the Middle Ages.
Medieval Women: In Their Own Words opens at the British Library
The British Library has opened a major exhibition: Medieval Women: In Their Own Words. Running until March, it brings together over 140 rare items that reveal the untold stories of medieval women, showcasing their achievements across various spheres of life, from religion and politics to literature and healthcare.
New Medieval Books: Monastic Women and Secular Economy in Later Medieval Europe, ca. 1200 to 1500
This book uncovers the economic influence of female monasteries in medieval society, revealing how they played a central role in shaping the economy.
The Queens Who Shaped Medieval Christianity: Gregory the Great’s Forgotten Allies
While Gregory’s influence is well known, the role of several powerful queens in promoting Catholic Christianity during his time is a fascinating but often overlooked aspect of this period.
New Medieval Books: Radegund
The story of Radegund, a 6th-century princess who would find herself being married to the man who had killed her family. From high politics in the Merovingian Empire to the creation of a monastery, Radegund’s life is a very interesting tale.
Women and the Mount Athos in the Byzantine Period
My topic this evening is women and Mount Athos in the Byzantine period and I emphasize the conjunction and women and Mount Athos, not women on Mount Athos.